2010 Grants Awarded to Partner Agencies
The Benzie County Community Chest Board of Directors uses a tier system to determine the types of grants that are made to agencies working in Benzie County. Tier 1 for direct services that supply direct care needs such as food, heat, shelter, etc. At least 70% of available funds spent in this tier. Tier 2 for services that provide quality of life needs, direct and indirect. Up to 20% of funds spent in this tier. Tier 3 for supplemental services that increase community quality of life, such as the arts. Up to 10% of funds spent in this tier.
Total 2010 Awards - $50,000
American Red Cross, $1,500 -- An ongoing effort to help people respond to the disaster-caused needs of the county's citizens.
Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, $12,000 -- To provide financial assistance for basic needs allowing neighbors to keep their dignity, promoting a whole and healthy community.
Benzie County Child Abuse Prevention Council, $3,000 - Helping diminish child abuse and neglect in Benzie County by reducing stress on families and addressing unmet safety and material needs.
Benzie Community Drop-In Center, $1,000 -- Empower 25 individuals with a history of mental health issues to become more self-aware and self reliant, to become better care givers to deal with difficult emotions in productive ways through the use of horse therapy (grooming and riding).
Benzie County Habitat for Humanity, $3,500 -- To assist Benzie County families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing by building simple homes for working lower income families
Benzie Human Services Collaborative Family Services Workgroup, $3,000 -- To provide direct financial assistance to struggling children and families. The benefit to the county will be to provide hope in this time of economic hardship.
Benzie Home Health Care, $4,000 -- To enable elderly adults to live at home in the Benzie community for as long as medically and socially possible.
Benzie Leelanau Health Department, $1,500 -- To cover health services such as screening, diagnosis, and treatment for individuals with unmet health needs that are beyond the scope of other available services.
Benzie Recovery Court Foundation, $4,000 -- Reduce substance abuse in offenders through increased judicial involvement, therapeutic intervention, and community collaboration to strengthen families and reduce crime.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, $3,500 -- Project Mentor will address a few of the top concerns affecting Benzie County youth as cited in their Youth Needs Survey: provide mentors and agency staff support to at risk youth in Benzie County.
Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, $3,000 -- Provide independent living skills to youth in foster care who are unlikely to return home before they age out of the system, increasing the likelihood they will be able to live successfully on their own.
Foundation for Mental Health, $1,450 -- To help provide funding to keep two Benzie County residents in permanent supportive housing for an additional year.
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, $1,000 -- To offer all Benzie County girls an opportunity to participate in the Girl Scout program, the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and to build developmental assets.
Love INC, $1,500 -- Increase awareness of and participation in the Benzie Family Life Center's whole family educational program.
Mills Community House Association, $500 - Help fund the "Rock Your Future" program that prepares Benzie County young women for employment options during and after high school.
MSU Extension Youth Activities Program, $300 -- P artly fund 4H summer camp, a series of week-long day-camps open to Benzie youth in grades 5-8.
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, $3,000 -- Provide major home repairs to low income homeowners in Benzie County, enabling them to stay in their homes where it is safe and healthy.
The Salvation Army, $1,500 - Purchase equipment to help the case worker access the Benzie County client database.
Third Level Crisis Center, $1,250 -- Assist homeless, run away, and at-risk youth and their families by providing financial help when they cannot meet the needs themselves.
Women's Resource Center, $1,500 -- Purchase appliances to complete a remodeling project to add an additional apartment to an existing transition house for clients of the agency and their children.
